"I'll admit I may have seen better days,
but I'm still not to be had for the price of a cocktail,
like a salted
peanut"(Margo Channing)

Sunday, 15 September 2013

Cottage Night

a Welsh love spoon hanging by the fire

Autumn is definitely here. The Atlantic storm, which was promised,has hit North Wales though the rain held off a little so when I got home after a full day on Intensive care , I had enough time to lock the hens up.

I bought a Welsh love spoon at the Tintern Abbey gift shop on one of my trips over. I remember that wonderful trip every time I look at it. It sounds warm and cozy at yours....get some rest and enjoy the peace.

Same here, Fall has arrived in New England. I still had to mow the lawn today but the leaves are starting to drop so it will be raking soon. And I've had a fire in the fireplace (more for cozy than for real heat) three nights this week.

Just taking a quick look at your blog before I fell asleep and found that delightful photo of the love spoon. I can glance over to the wall of our bedroom and see my love spoon that my now gently snoring husband brought me back oh so many years ago. Thank you for bringing back that memory. Warm and raining here in Montreal but was a lovely sunny fall day. My time of the year!

The heating nearly went after with moans from the chilly ones. Dillon did have a heater on to dry him out after a muddy dip.Sadly no real fires in this house ( one day ) but thought of lighting a few candles.

The lovespoon was given to a young woman by her suitor. It was important for the girl's father to see that the young man was capable of providing for the family and woodworking.Sailors would often carve lovespoons during their long journeys, which is why anchors would often be incorporated into the carvings.Certain symbols came to have specific meanings: a horseshoe for luck, a cross for faith, bells for marriage, hearts for love, a wheel supporting a loved one and a lock for security, among others. Caged balls indicated the number of children hoped for. Other difficult carvings, such as chains, were as much a demonstration of the carver's skill as a symbolic meaning.Although the Welsh lovespoon is the most famous there are also traditions of lovespoons in Scandinavia and some parts of Eastern Europe, which have their own unique styles and techniques when it comes to the Lovespoon.Today lovespoons are given as wedding and anniversary gifts, as well as birthday, baby gifts, Christmas or Valentine's Day gifts. They are now mostly seen as a folk craft.